Promoting tolerance of enteral feeds in children and young people: domperidone

Cost

The unit costs of the different domperidone formulations are summarised below. The formulation of domperidone most likely to be used off-label for promoting tolerance of enteral feeds in children and young people is the oral suspension because of its acceptability in this group. It also allows more accurate administration of the smaller doses likely to be needed in younger children.

No information on the typical dose or treatment duration of off-label domperidone to promote tolerance of enteral feeds in children and young people was available at the time this evidence summary was prepared. Therefore, it was not possible to estimate daily, weekly or monthly costs with any degree of certainty.

Current drug usage

Prescription cost analysis for England 2012 shows that approximately 1,618,400 prescriptions for domperidone 10 mg tablets (branded and generic formulations) were dispensed at a cost of around £4,197,900, approximately 4000 prescriptions for Motilium Instants 10 mg orodispersible tablets were dispensed at a cost of around £65,500 and approximately 161,600 prescriptions for domperidone suspension 1 mg/ml (branded and generic formulations) at a cost of around £3,987,600. It is not known for which indications these were prescribed.